KEBi  nlu/vi 


NUMBER  ONE  BURMA 


Christian  Leadership  Abroad 


A SERIES  OF  SKETCHES  rLLUSTSATinG 
THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  AN  INDIGENOUS 
CHRISTIANITY  ON  THE  FOREIGN  FIELD 

Published  as  occasion  may  require  by  the 
AMERICAN  BAPTIST  FOREIGN  MISSION  SOCIETY, 

FORD  BUILDING,  ASHBURTON  PLACE.  BOSTON.  MASS. 


SA^  CROMBIE  PO 
A Christian  Physician  of  Bassein 
By  C.  A.  Nichols 

IN  1886  the  steamer,  carrying  some  of  the  Burmese  mission- 
aries to  America  on  furlough,  brought  to  these  shores  a 
little  Karen  lad  of  winning  disposition  and  cheerful  mien 
— San  Crombie  Po  by  name.  Today,  thirty  years  later,  he  is 
the  recently  appointed  Karen  representative  on  the  Burman  Leg- 
islative Council,  the  first  man  ever  to  represent  in  the  Council 
the  Karen  Christian  commimity  of  Burma. 

Missionaries  sent  from  America  and  European  countries  real- 
ize more  and  more  each  year  that  at  best  they  can  do  but  a frac- 
tional part  of  the  work  of  establishing  the  Kingdom  of  God 
among  the  millions  in  the  unevangelized  world.  Increasing  at- 
tention is  therefore  being  given  to  the  question  of  how  best  to 
develop  on  the  field  itself  strong  native  leaders  who  shall  assume 
the  responsibility.  Dr.  San  Crombie  Po  ably  illustrates  the 
power  and  influence  many  of  these  native  Christians  attain. 

He  was  a child  of  rich  heritage  having  descended  on  his 
mother’s  side  from  among  the  first  converts  of  Burma  who 
suffered  persecution  and  torture  because  of  their  new  faith.  His 
maternal  grandfather  was  Thara  Ke,  one  of  these  earliest  con- 
verts to  Christianity  in  Bassein.  I remember  his  telling  me  how 
he  was  persecuted  by  the  officials  who  looked  upon  his  em- 

(H 


bracing  the  new  religion  as  high  treason  against  the  government 
of  the  country.  The  church  of  which  he  was  pastor  became  one 
of  the  most  flourishing  and  well-grounded  in  the  Christian  faith 
of  any  in  the  association.  Many  of  the  most  intelligent  mem- 
bers of  the  large  circle  of  other  churches  were  at  one  time  mem- 
bers of  or  are  descendants  of  those  brought  up  in  his  chinch. 

On  his  father’s  side  he  inherited  the  energy  and  ability  which 
had  made  his  paternal  grandfather  a successful  official  as  tax 
collector  and  magistrate  under  the  Burman  government.  In- 
heriting mental  and  spiritual  gifts  and  an  eagerness  to  learn 
San  Crombie  Po  was  well  eqiupped  for  his  later  brilliant  career. 

When  it  became  necessary  in  1886  for  Mrs.  Nichols  to  make 
her  first  return  journey  to  America  with  her  infant  boy  it  was 
quite  impracticable  that  I should  leave  the  field  on  accoimt  of 
the  rebeUion  following  the  dethronement  of  King  Thibaw.  One 
band  of  insurgents  had  killed  our  English  deputy  commissioner 
and  burned  some  of  our  Christian  villages.  Our  Karen  Chris- 
tians were  taking  prominent  action  against  such  bands  and  my 
presence  was  accordingly  needed.  I suggested  that  San  C.  Po 
accompany  Mrs.  Nichols,  and  thus  he  came  to  America. 

During  my  furlough  somewhat  later  he  went  with  us  to  Thou- 
sand Island  Park  to  the  meeting  of  the  International  Missionary 
Union.  He  was  requested  to  appear  on  the  platform  and  give 
a brief  recitation.  With  his  usual  readiness  to  comply  with  our 
wishes  he  at  once  consented,  but  when  the  time  arrived  he  could 
not  be  foimd.  Finally  I discovered  him  in  the  rear  of  the  audi- 
torium leaning  his  head  against  an  empty  packing  case  looking 
quite  pale  and  doleful.  With  an  appeal  to  my  sympathy  he 
said  he  could  not  appear  as  he  had  “a  sinking  sensation  at  the 
pit  of  his  stomach.”  He  evidently  thought  I was  somewhat  tm- 
sympathetic  because  he  quite  emphatically  reassured  me  that 
he  was  actually  suffering  in  that  way.  However,  he  came  to  the 
platform  and  did  his  part  effectively  to  the  delight  of  all. 

After  two  years  at  Colgate  Academy  he  entered  the  Albany 
Medical  College  at  an  imusuaUy  early  age,  and  his  hours  there 
were  so  packed  with  work  and  activity  that  his  instructors  often 
feared  for  his  health.  At  one  time  the  principal  anxiously  re- 
ported that  the  yoimg  Karen  was  “working  himself  to  death, 
musing  in  the  hospital  by  night  to  pay  his  way  and  doing  full 
work  by  day . ’ ’ This  strenuous  activity  of  his  college  days  seems 

[2] 


to  have  been  prophetic  of  his  later  life  for  he  has  filled  the  years 
to  overflowing  with  rare  versatility  in  achievement. 

While  taking  this  course  one  feature  of  his  development  ought 
not  to  be  overlooked.  Soon  after  reaching  Albany  he  providen- 
tially met  there  a Christian  woman  of  means  and  cultme,  who 
took  him  into  her  heart,  praying  with  him  and  for  him,  making 
one  of  the  deepest  impressions  upon  him  at  this  perhaps  the  most 
critical  period  of  his  life.  How  often  a Christian  woman  exerts 
a powerful  influence  upon  the  career  of  a great  man ! 

Dr.  Po,  the  ever-busy  man,  would  probably  smile  now  could 
he  see  a letter  he  wrote  after  receiving  his  medical  degree,  in 
which  he  expressed  the  fear  that  a return  home  might  make  him 
lazy  because  of  the  warm  climate.  He  did  return  home,  how- 
ever, and  the  climate  apparently  proved  to  be  more  beneficial 
than  detrimental  to  his  vigor  and  usefulness.  He  entered  the 
English  Medical  service  at  first  as  an  assistant  in  the  civil 
hospital  and  soon  became  civil  surgeon.  After  several  years 
of  successful  service  he  came  to  consult  me  in  regard  to  re- 
signing from  the  service  in  order  to  take  up  independent  prac- 
tice. He  wished  to  do  so  at  the  solicitations  of  his  many  Karen 
friends,  and  especially  because  the  government  service  some- 
times called  him  away  for  long  periods  from  his  family,  necessi- 
tating their  moving  about  often  in  places  most  imdesirable  for 
bringing  up  the  children.  I pointed  out  what  he  would  lose  in 
prestige  as  well  as  pension  and  other  prospects  as  a government 
servant  and  called  his  attention  to  the  fact  that  an  independent 
practice  was  far  more  hazardous  in  Burma  than  in  America.  The 
physician  in  Burma  must  continually  fight  superstition,  imbe- 
lief,  and  the  inborn  prejudice  against  foreign  medicine  and  treat- 
ment. After  careful  and  prayerful  consideration  he  decided  to 
resign  and  his  later  career  of  usefulness  proved  the  wisdom  of 
his  decision.  For  some  time.  Dr.  Po  could  find  no  trustworthy 
assistants  or  nurses  to  carry  out  his  instructions  but  gradually, 
with  his  patience,  tact  and  self-reliance,  he  gained  the  implicit 
confidence  of  the  people  of  all  classes  in  the  community. 

Now  he  ministers  to  people  far  and  near;  has  trained  many 
efficient  Karen  nmses;  has  built  a splendid  house  for  himself,  a 
druggist  hall,  and  a private  hospital  which  is  managed  by  native 
medical  assistants  and  muses.  He  is  a prominent  leader  in  his 
community,  the  medical  adviser  of  many  hundreds  of  families, 

[3] 


a trustee  of  the  Sgaw  Karen  High  School,  a member  of  the  Muni- 
cipal Board  of  Commissioners,  and  now  — more  important  than 
all  — the  new  Karen  appointee  to  the  Btirma  Legislative  Coun- 
cil. The  following  paragraph  from  the  Rangoon  Gazette  sum- 
marizes briefly  his  career  and  indicates  also  his  standing  and  the 
splendid  service  he  has  rendered  his  community. 

The  Karen  Christian  Community  in  Burma  has  at  last  a spokesman  of 
their  own  race  on  the  Burma  Legislative  Council.  Dr.  San  Crombie  Po 
is  one  of  Bassein’s  best  known  worthies.  A Karen  Christian,  he  was 
educated  in  America,  and  took  his  M.D.  degree  there.  He  has  specialized 
in  diseases,  notably  cholera  and  plague,  in  the  combating  of  which  he 
has  done  yeoman  service,  attending  among  many  others,  with  success. 
Rev.  C.  A.  Nichols,  when  the  latter  had  cholera,  and  Rev.  L.  W.  Cronkhite, 
who  two  years  ago  had  plague.  The  Honorable  Dr.  San  C.  Po  is  a medical 
practitioner  of  Bassein  and  a keen  worker  in  the  American  Baptist  Mission 
activities  amongst  the  Delta  Karens;  he  nms  a large  dispensary  in  the 
station.  His  activities  include  the  Bassein  Municipality,  he  being  a 
member  of  its  board  of  commissioners.  A grandson  of  the  pastor  of  the 
small  village  of  Kozu,  near  Bassein,  he  is  46  years  of  age,  and  for  8 years, 
from  1886  to  1894,  pursued  his  studies  in  America,  obtaining  his  M.D. 
at  Albany  Medical  College,  New  York.  For  a time  after  his  return  to 
Burma  he  was  in  Government  service;  as  Civil  Surgeon  at  Kyaukse  and 
Myaimgmya.  He  took  up  private  practice  at  Bassein  15  years  ago. 

My  colleagues  in  the  mission  work  on  our  three  mission  com- 
pounds in  Bassein,  Sgaw  Karen,  Pwo  Karen  and  Burmese,  will 
most  heartily  concur  with  me  in  any  words  of  appreciation 
respecting  his  medical  and  other  aid  to  us,  personally,  and 
among  the  thousand  pupils  in  our  schools.  As  one  said,  “not 
only  his  medicine  but  his  happy  and  cheerful  manner  are  usually 
efficacious  when  he  is  called  upon  to  restore  people  to  health.” 

Dr.  San  Crombie  Po  is  only  one  of  the  many  Christian  leaders 
in  all  lands  whose  abilities  are  being  brought  to  the  light  — de- 
veloped under  the  influence  of  the  Gospel.  When  money  given 
to  foreign  missions  produces  such  results,  no  one  can  deny  that 
it  is  a good  investment.  Are  you  doing  yoiu"  share  in  making 
possible  the  development  of  Christian  leadership  abroad? 


For  additional  literature  or  other  information  regarding  the  work  of  the 
American  Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Society,  write  to  any  of  the  following: 

1.  The  nearest  District  Secretary. 

2.  Department  of  Missionary  Education,  23  East  26th  St.,  New  York  City. 

3.  Literature  Department,  Box  41,  Boston,  Mass. 

Twenty-five  cents  per  hundred.  Sample  copies  free. 

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